Foldable set of shelves

ABSTRACT

A foldable set of shelves, comprising a plurality of shelves for supporting items such as books or leaflets, and at least one support element intersecting each shelf and being pivotably arranged thereto so as to form an X-shaped structure with the shelf, whereby the set of shelves is foldable from a display position to a storage position by adjusting a distance between two adjacent arms of said X-shaped structure. The support element comprises a bar running through said shelf so as to accomplish the pivotable arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable set of shelves, comprising aplurality of shelves for supporting items such as books or leaflets, andat least one support element intersecting each shelf and being pivotablyarranged so as to form an X-shaped structure with the shelf, whereby theset of shelves is foldable from a display position to a storage positionby adjusting a distance between two adjacent arms of said X-shapedstructure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foldable sets of shelves for displaying for example books and leafletsare particularly useful for movable display arrangements, being set uptemporarily during e.g. a trade show or fair. For convenient use of sucha set of shelves, it should preferably be foldable to a storage positiontaking up a relatively small space, so as to facilitate transport andstoring. Further, it should be easy to fold up to a display position,and to fold back to the storage position, in order to save time andeffort when setting up or moving the movable display arrangement. Also,in display position, the set of shelves should clearly display thebooks, leaflets etc. supported thereupon in an attractive manner.Finally, the set of shelves should be stable so as to be able to standup to some pushing that might easily occur in the crowding of a tradefair without falling over.

A set of shelves for displaying leaflets etc comprising a plurality ofshelves and support elements intersecting the shelves so as to form anX-shaped structure with the shelf is known on the market today. Thesupport elements are pivotally arranged to the shelves, whereby the setof shelves is foldable from a display position to a storage position byadjusting a distance between two adjacent arms of the X-shapedstructure. In its display position, this shelf is arranged so that theshelves are positioned parallel to each other, thus the shelf does nottake up much space. From the display position, the set of shelves isextensible to a display position, in which the shelves are positionedone above the other. The shelves are interconnected by pairs of flatrods, being pivotably attached to the side of the shelves by screws andnuts.

This set of shelve, although fulfilling many other desired requirementsof a display shelf, is relatively expensive. Also, its constructionrestricts the number of materials that may be used for the shelf, sincematerials having relatively high weight might make the constructionprone to falling over or collapsing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternativefoldable set of shelves enabling constructions which fulfils one orseveral of the requirements of a foldable display shelf, and alsoenabling a more simple and economical construction.

This object is achieved by a set of shelves according to theintroduction, in which said support element comprises a bar runningthrough said shelf so as to accomplish the pivotable arrangement.

This construction minimizes the number of parts needed for the set ofshelves, in that only the shelf parts and the bars are necessary toprovide the foldable X-shaped structures of the set. Less parts resultin that the costs for manufacturing the shelf may be reduced. Also, theconstruction according to the invention enables a shorter manufacturingtime, since threading bars through the shelves generally requireconsiderably less time than the known solutions using rods beingattached by screws and nuts. The shorter manufacturing time may furtherreduce costs for the set of shelves.

Preferably, each shelf is supported by a pair of parallel bars, beingpivotally arranged at opposite sides of said shelf.

Advantageously, each bar has longitudinal portions forming arms of saidX-shaped structure, and at least one transversal attachment portionrunning through an opening provided in the shelf for accomplishing saidpivotable arrangement. In this manner, the pivotal connection betweenthe support element and the shelves may be easily accomplished. Thetransversal attachment portion in the opening will extend along a pivotaxis, about which the longitudinal portion of the bar is pivotable. Thisconstruction is particularly simple and does not require much assemblytime.

Also, a bar may be provided with a transversal attachment portion at anend of said bar, said transversal attachment portion running through anopening provided in the shelf for accomplishing pivotable arrangement ofthe end of the bar. Thus, also the ends of the bars may easily beconnected to shelves using transversal attachment portions.

Preferably, the foldable set of shelves is arranged so that a bar at atleast one shelf, said shelf being situated between a lower shelf and ahigher shelf, is pivotably connected at one end to an upper end of saidlower shelf, and at the other end to a lower end of said upper shelf,and at a middle portion to the shelf which the bar intersects to formthe X-shaped structure. Using this arrangement, the set of shelves willform a number of X-shaped structures, being interconnected via thesupport elements. The interconnection causes simultaneous movement ofthe X-shaped structure; by adjusting the distance between two adjacentarms of one X-shaped structure, the rest of the X-shaped structures ofthe shelf will automatically be adjusted in the same manner.

Advantageously, the shelves may have edges forming an angle to a shelfplane, said edges being provided with openings through which the barsrun. Preferably, the edges may be substantially perpendicular to theshelve plane.

The set of shelves may with advantage comprise a shelf base, to which alowermost end of a lowermost shelf and a lowermost end of a lowermostbar is arranged. The distance between the lowermost ends of thelowermost shelf and bar may be adjustable so as to enable adjustment ofthe distance between two arms of the X-shaped structure formed betweenthe lowermost shelf and bar. This construction enables control of themovement of the set of shelves between the different positions. Thelowermost end of the lowermost bar or the lowermost shelf isadvantageously pivotably arranged to the shelf base. Also, at least oneof said lowermost ends may be slidably arranged to the shelf base.

Accordingly, the set of shelves is movable from the storage position tothe display position upon approaching the lowermost end of the lowermostshelf to the lowermost end of the lowermost bar at said shelf base,whereby the lowermost shelf and bar will pivot resulting in pivotalmovement of all shelves and bars.

To accomplish sliding and pivotable arrangement of the lowermost end ofthe lowermost shelf to the shelf base, the lowermost end of thelowermost shelf may be provided with a pair of runners for cooperationwith corresponding rails in said shelf base.

Advantageously, a locking device (6) for locking the lowermost end ofsaid lowermost shelf (1.1) and lowermost end of said lowermost bar (2.1)at a distance from each other in which the set of shelves assumes adisplay position. Thus, the set of shelves may conveniently be locked inits display position.

The shelf base may be provided with an extendible support being arrangedso as to extend or retract from the shelf base upon movement of thelowermost bar or the lowermost shelf in relation to the shelf base. Withsuch an arrangement, the extendible support will be retracted and thusnot take up much space when in the storage position. When in the displayposition, it will extend from the shelf base thus increasing the generalsupport area of the set of shelves and enhancing the stability of theset of shelves. The automatic extension or retraction of the extendiblesupport upon adjustment from a display position to a storage position orvice versa contributes to the easy handling of the set of shelves.

An alternative or additional way of accomplishing locking of the set ofshelves in the display position is to provide a locking means at theuppermost end of the set. Thus, a locking means may be provided forlocking an uppermost bar and an uppermost shelf at a distance from eachother in which the set of shelves assumes a display position.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following detailed description of some preferredembodiments of the invention, which is given by way of non-limitingexample only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a set of shelvesaccording to the invention when in a storage position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the set of shelves of FIG. 1 when in adisplay position.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view from below of the set of shelves of FIG.1 when in the storage position.

FIG. 3 b is the same view as FIG. 3 a, where the bottom portion of theshelf base has been removed.

FIG. 4 depicts a support element of the set of shelves of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a set of shelves according to theinvention when in a storage position, and FIG. 2 depicts the same set ofshelves when in a display position.

The set of shelves comprise a plurality of shelves 1, in this particularcase five shelves, for supporting items such as books or leaflets. Asupport element in the form of a bar 2 intersect each shelf at a midportion thereof so as to form an X-shaped structure with the shelf. Byadjusting a distance between two adjacent arms of the X-shapedstructure, the set of shelves is foldable from a display position asseen in FIG. 2 to a storage position as seen in FIG. 1.

The bars 2 are arranged at each shelf 1.3 being situated between a lowershelf 1.2 and a higher shelf 1.4, so as to be pivotably connected at oneend to an upper end of said lower shelf 1.2, at the other end to a lowerend of said higher shelf 1.4, and at a mid-portion of the shelf 1.3.Accordingly, the shelves 1 and bars 2 of the set forms a number ofX-shaped structures arranged one above the other. Adjustment of thedistance between two adjacent arms of one of the X-shaped structureswill automatically lead to the same adjustment between the otherX-shaped structures of the set.

Each shelf is in this case actually supported by a pair of parallel bars2, being attached to opposite sides of said shelf 1. The pairs of bars 2will be arranged in a similar manner at the corresponding sides of theshelf 1 and both bars 2 will in all situations assume correspondingpositions. Hereinafter, we will only discuss the arrangement andposition of one of the bars 2 at each shelf 1. The arrangement on theopposite side of the shelf 1 will mirror the one described.

In the storage position, the shelves 1 are arranged in parallel to eachother, and with a rather small distance in between each shelf 1. Theshelf planes form a rather small angle with a horizontal plane, and arearranged on top of each other. In the display position, the shelves hasbeen pivoted so that the shelf planes form a greater angle with ahorizontal plane; and assume a position in which the shelves 1 aresuitable for displaying leaflets etc. Accordingly, in the storageposition the set of shelves is more compact and has a considerably lessheight than in the display position.

In accordance with the invention, the bar 2 at each shelf 1 is runningthrough said shelf 1 so as to accomplish the pivotable attachment. Asbest seen in FIG. 4, each bar 2 has longitudinal portions 2 a thatextend between the different shelves 1. Further, each bar has atransversal attachment portion 2 b located at the middle of the bar 2for attachment to a mid-portion of the shelf 1. In this case, thetransversal attachment portion 2 b is formed by a kink on the elongatedbar 2. The longitudinal portions 2 a run along a straight line fromwhich said kink departs to form the transversal attachment portion 2 b.Also, the ends of the bar 2 is provided with end transversal attachmentportions 2 c, for attachments to the lower end and the upper end of ahigher and a lower shelf, respectively.

The transversal attachment portions 2 b and 2 c run trough openings 3provided on the shelves 1, so as to accomplish the pivotal attachment ofthe bar 2 to the shelves 1. The openings 3 through which the bars runare provided on edges provided along the sides of the shelves, each edgebeing substantially perpendicular to the shelf plane. Each shelf hasopenings 3 adjacent to the upper portion of the shelf, to the lowerportion of the shelf, and to the mid portion of the shelf.

Via the transversal attachment portions 2 b, 2 c, most bars 2interconnect three shelves 1: a lower shelf, a middle shelf and a topshelf. The lowermost bar 2 of the set of shelves is however attached toa shelf base 5 and not to a lower shelf 1. Likewise, the uppermost bar 2of the set of shelves is not attached to a top shelf, but extends freelyand is in this case is connected to the uppermost bar 2 at the otherside of the set of shelves.

Thus, the bars in between the lowermost bar and the uppermost bar allextend from a first end transversal portion, being attached at a topportion of the lower shelf, via a first longitudinal portion to a kink,being attached at a mid-portion of the middle shelf, via a secondlongitudinal portion to a second end transversal portion being attachedat a bottom portion of the top shelf.

Each shelf 1 has a shelf plane portion and a support portion at an endthereof, being essentially perpendicular to the shelf plane portion.When in display position, the shelf plane portion will extend in adirection being more vertical than horisiontal, whereas the supportportion will extend in a direction being more to the horizontal than tothe vertical. Books or leaflets to be supported by the set of shelvesare intended to be placed with their cover portions against the shelfplane portion and their end portions against the support portion.

The lowermost end of the lowermost bar 2.1 is arranged to a shelf base5. In this case, the location of the lowermost end of the lowermost bar2.1 is fixed, but the bar 2.1 is pivotable about the fixed position inthe shelf base 5. The lowermost end of the lowermost shelf 1.1 is alsoattached to the shelf base 5, at a distance from the lowermost bar 2.1.The lowermost shelf 1.1 is also pivotable in relation to the shelf base5, but in contrast to the lowermost bar 1.1, it is slidably arranged inthe shelf base 5. Thus, for moving the set of shelves from the storageposition to the display position, the lowermost end of the lowermostshelf 1.1 may be slided in direction towards the position of thelowermost end of the lowermost bar 2.1. As the lowermost ends of thelowermost shelf and bar closes in against each other, both the shelf 1.1and the bar 2.1 will pivot, moving the shelf 1.1 towards a more uprightposition. This results in simultaneous pivoting of all the shelves 1 andbars 2 of the system. When the lowermost end of the lowermost shelf isat a distance from the lowermost end of the lowermost bar correspondingto the set of shelves having attained the display position, it may belocked in this position by a locking device such as a hatch. In thismanner, the set of shelves may be locked in the display position. Forreturning to the storage position, the locking means is released and thelowermost end of the lowermost shelf 1.1 is slided away from thelowermost bar 2.1.

As is best seen in FIG. 3 b, in this particular embodiment, thelowermost end of the lowermost shelf is slidably arranged to the shelfbase 5 by means of a pair of runners 8 running in corresponding rails inthe shelf base 5. The locking means 6 is formed by a kink 6 of a threadstructure in the shelf base 5, in which kink the runners 8 of thelowermost shelf 1.1 may be locked.

The set of shelves is further provided with an extendible support 7being arranged so as to extend or retract from the shelf base 5 upon thesliding movement of the lowermost shelf 1.1. Thus, when the lowermostend of the lowermost shelf 1.1 slides towards the lowermost bar, causingthe set to attain the display position, the support 7 is automaticallyextended. Likewise, the support 7 is retracted when the set of shelvesis moved to the storage position. In this case, the support 7 is formedby a thread structure being connected to the lowermost end of thelowermost shelf 1.1.

At the uppermost end of the set of shelves, the pair uppermost bars 2.5are interconnected via a transverse thread member. A locking means 9, inthis case also formed by a thread structure, is provided for lockingsaid uppermost bar 2.5 to the uppermost end of the uppermost shelf 1.5when the set of shelves is in display position.

It is appreciated that it is enough to provide one locking meansanywhere along the set of shelves, since a fixed relationship betweenshelves and bars at one location will result in the fixed position ofthe entire set of shelves. Thus, the locking means described at thelowermost end of the set, and the locking means described at theuppermost end of the set, may each be used separately. However, in thisembodiment they are combined. This arrangement with one locking means ateach end of the set results in further enhanced stability of the set.

The bars 2 are preferably resililent enough so as to be convenientlythreaded through the openings of the shelves, and yet not more resilientthan that they provide the stability required. Advantageously, the bars2 may be made of metal or steel such as stainless steel. The shelves maybe manufactured of sheet metal, such as aluminium or stainless steel.The construction enables however use of a wide range of materials forthe bars and the shelves.

Although in the depicted embodiment the bars and the shelves areinterconnected adjacent to the lowermost or uppermost ends of saidshelves, one could imagine that the bars and shelves are interconnectedso that the shelves extend somewhat beyond the position ofinterconnection. The depicted embodiment is a preferred embodiment inwhich all connections between bars and shelves are made by transverseportions of the bars being introduced into openings in the shelves. Thisis a particularly simple and economical construction. One could howeverimagine that some other components are used such as a bearing in theopening of the shelves or an attachment plug attached to the ends of thebars.

1. A foldable set of shelves, comprising a plurality of shelves forsupporting items such as books or leaflets, and at least one supportelement intersecting each shelf and being pivotably arranged thereto soas to form an X-shaped structure with the shelf, whereby the set ofshelves is foldable from a display position to a storage position byadjusting a distance between two adjacent arms of said X-shapedstructure wherein said support element comprising a bar running throughsaid shelf as to accomplish the pivotable arrangement.
 2. A foldable setof shelves according to claim 1, wherein each bar has longitudinalportions forming arms of said X-shaped structure, and at least onetransversal attachment portion running through an opening provided inthe a shelf for accomplishing said pivotable arrangement.
 3. A foldableset of shelves according to claim 1, wherein a bar at at least oneshelf, said shelf being situated between a lower shelf and a highershelf, is pivotably connected at one end to an upper end of said lowershelf, and at the other end to a lower end of said upper shelf, and at amiddle portion to the shelf which the bar intersects to form theX-shaped structure.
 4. A foldable set of shelves according to claim 1,wherein at least one bar is provided with a transversal attachmentportion at an end of said bar, said transversal attachment portionrunning through an opening provided in the shelf for accomplishingpivotable attachment of the end of the bar.
 5. A foldable set of shelvesaccording to claim 1, wherein the shelves have edges forming an angle toa shelf plane, said edges being provided with openings through whichsaid bars run.
 6. A foldable set of shelves according to claim 1,further comprising a shelf base, to which the lowermost end of alowermost shelf and a lowermost end of a lowermost bar is arranged, thedistance between said lowermost end of the lowermost shelf and thelowermost end of the lowermost bar being adjustable so as to enableadjustment of the X-shaped structure formed between the lowermost shelfand bar.
 7. A foldable set of shelves according to claim 1 having alocking device for locking the lowermost end of said lowermost shelf andlowermost end of said lowermost shelf and lowermost end of saidlowermost bar at a distance from each other in which the set of shelvesassumes a display position.
 8. A foldable set of shelves according toclaim 1 said shelf base being provided with an extendible support beingarranged so as to extend or retract from the shelf base upon movement ofthe lowermost bar or the lowermost shelf in relation to the shelf base.9. A foldable set of shelves according to claim 1, wherein a lockingmember is provided for locking an uppermost bar and an uppermost shelfat a distance from each other in which the set of shelves assumes adisplay position.
 10. A foldable set of shelves according to claim 1,wherein each shelf is supported by a pair of parallel bars, beingpivotally attached to opposite sides of said shelf.